Posts tagged askengadgethd

A Netflix Watch Instantly app is pretty much a standard feature on home theater devices these days, but with so many options, how do you choose which one to use? That's what our friend Don wants to know, but we'll let him describe the situation first:
I've got plenty of options on what to use for N...

One unfortunate side effect of the connected TVs and set-top boxes invading living rooms is a whole new set of remotes to deal with. This week our question comes from Steven who has a stable of four remotes he'd like to slim down, but he's not sure how to make it all work:
Just bought a Samsung 5...

Sure, sometimes our queries are incredibly specific, super high end or relate to a deeper need for a comfortable home life, but sometimes a guy just needs a new TV. This is the case for our friend Jared, but we'll let him spill the details:
My TV just died. It was a 50 inch Vizio Plasma unit. I'v...

As much as we love drilling holes, running cables and troubleshooting issues in search of the perfect home theater, there's a certain point where it makes sense to call in a professional to do the job instead. Today our question comes from Casey, who is trying to figure out where to draw that line:...

As much as we love DIY projects, HTPC owners know that from time to time the "yourself" part can be the most frustrating one when things don't work quite right. That's where our friend Chris finds himself on his current project, and he's looking for a way out:
"Last year, I built my latest generati...

Our friend Nathan is a simple guy with simple needs. He just wants to stream MKVs from a DLNA server to watch on his HDTV and he doesn't want to pay a lot or do a lot of work to do it. We'll let him break down the situation:
I was about to buy an Apple TV for $99 with the express purpose of hacking...

It's been quite a while since we checked in on the midrange receiver market, but our friend Simon's query has brought this crucial home theater component back to the forefront:
"It's way past time for me to get a new receiver, my old one doesn't even have HDMI and I'm ready for a full audio upgra...

You can't walk down an electronics store aisle without three or four connected or smart TV platforms jumping out at you, but which one is actually the best? That's the question our friend Dwight wants to have answered, but we'll let him break down the situation:
"I'm looking into buying a new HDT...

We know, we know, projectors have been woefully underrepresented here, but this week it's their time to shine. We've fielded more than one question about what projector to buy but this week it's a little different. Our friend Paul already has his beamer, but so far it's only pointed at a nearby wal...

It's been a while since we addressed this one, but the possibility of setting up an HTPC or media streamer, ripping ones DVD/Blu-ray collection and putting the discs out to pasture for good is an attractive idea to many. For our friend Stanford, that's the question, but also with an eye towards doi...

It's that time of year, for the family to get together... and carefully plan which big box retailer they're going to spend the night camped outside of to obtain a slight discount on a flat screen TV of questionable quality. At least, that's what it's like if you're in Scott's family, but we'll let ...

Sure you can always go Windows Media center CableCARD style, but what if you just want to record a few clips of what's already coming out of your set-top box or available via ClearQAM on your PC? We'll let Bruce lay it out for you:
What is the best method or hardware for the amateur to use in a PC...

As your home theater setup grows, for many a problem is moving components out of line of sight, and still being able to control them. While for a few a Bluetooth or other RF technology takes care of remote control issues, the majority of devices still rely on IR control, and making that work is wha...

We're no stranger to questions about audio setups on Ask Engadget HD, and we've even covered a bit about what to do for those seeking the best home theater experience with headphones. Still, we're a bit unfamiliar with what to do when you want to use headphones, but throw in the additional demand o...

While you may already be drooling over a Super Hi-Vision TV, in the present day we're still pretty limited when it comes to resolution. While 1080p HDTVs have been around long enough to dominate the market at most price points, there are still plenty of 720p models hanging around, and Brian's consi...

Every HDTV purchase comes with its own set of considerations, and for our friend Philip, the main one is playing videogames. You can keep your THX certifications and internet connected widgets, we need to know what will contribute to the greatest kill/death ratio, period:
"I just graduated and m...

Having a computer in the living room isn't an uncommon sight around here, but trying to cut down the number of living room components can lead to some interesting questions. This week, Kit is wondering if he can get a quality audio setup without a dedicated receiver:
I am a big HTPC enthusiast a...

We get asked this question all the time, what's the best thing to watch and listen to on a new home theater setup? Our friend Jeremy just got everything set up the way he wants it, and now it's time to pick out some demo material, but we'll let him ask the questions:
"I've finally put all the fin...

We're pretty used to wondering about what kind of computer is best suited for connecting to your HDTV, but what if it also has to pull double duty as an on the go workhorse? That's the dilemma of our friend Scott:
"'I've been looking to buy a nettop PC with an Atom/ION to use as my HTPC, like the...

We've dealt with plenty of novices considering making the jump to CableCARD and Windows Media Center, but what about someone with a more complex setup and list of requirements? Enter our friend Daryl, currently using a 20TB home server feeding ripped discs to a Mac Mini running Plex, and a TiVo for...